May 2026

Released June 23, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 20, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 22.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In May, Virginia lost 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 52,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Virginia’s private sector lost 8,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 47,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Virginia fell by 4,250, and over the past 12 months it fell by 61,258.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.3 percent in May from 63.4 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia lost 8,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Virginia lost 100 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia lost 8,300 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Virginia lost 1,300 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From April 2026 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,100) and State and Local Government (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-6,200) and Construction (-2,300).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+15,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+6,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-28,800) and Federal Government (-20,100).

Virginia

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Virginia fell to 63.3 percent in May from 63.4 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.3 percent in May 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.